Shloka 22
पानीयदान-प्रपादान-वापीकूपतडाग-निर्माण-प्रशंसा
Praise of Water-Gift and the Construction of Wells and Tanks
तडागकृद्वृक्षरोपी चेष्टयज्ञश्च यो द्विजः । एते स्वर्गान्न हीयंते ये चान्ये सत्यवादिनः
taḍāgakṛdvṛkṣaropī ceṣṭayajñaśca yo dvijaḥ | ete svargānna hīyaṃte ye cānye satyavādinaḥ
That twice-born man who digs a pond, plants trees, and performs the yajña with earnest devotion—such people do not fall away from heaven; nor do others who are devoted to truthfulness.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: General tīrtha-ethic: digging ponds and planting trees are classic iṣṭāpūrta works that create ‘tīrtha-like’ merit; many Jyotirliṅga sthalas praise donors who build tanks/ghāṭas for pilgrims.
Significance: Encourages public-benefit dharma (water, shade, yajña, satya) as sustaining merit leading to svarga and social welfare—aligned with temple endowments and pilgrim infrastructure.
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva-dharma is not only inner devotion but also righteous, welfare-oriented karma—creating water sources, planting trees, performing sincere yajña, and speaking truth—actions that generate enduring punya and elevate the soul’s trajectory.
In Shaiva practice, Linga worship is strengthened by satya (truth) and seva (service). Acts that sustain life—water and trees—are offerings aligned with Saguna Shiva as the compassionate Lord who upholds the world through dharma.
Perform sincere yajña-like worship (regular puja with disciplined intent), uphold truthfulness, and adopt dharmic charity such as planting trees or supporting water-restoration as a practical vrata alongside mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya).